Below is such a powerful promise.
I feel like my whole life has been "troubled waters" that has brought glory to Jesus. But I am not perfect, I have made MANY mistakes. I've hurt a lot of people I love dearly. (Newsflash: *gasp* I'm a SINNER.) But lately the Lord has been wooing me to Himself. He has astonished me with His Grace and His Mercy and His Faithfulness.
I always thought that if I was "in sin" that somehow God would not be able to move in my life, and that I would be removed from Him, or He would remove Himself or His hand from me.
But He has shown up in my life and been even MORE present in recent months than ever before.
*He moves in SPITE of my brokenness.
* He uses me in spite of MY faithfulness.
*My behavior does not dictate my "position" as His Child.
*His word does not change.
*His faithfulness is not contingent on MY faithfulness *His Love does not leave. Ever.
I am humbled beyond measure. And I am a recipient of His Grace and Mercy in ways I have never experienced before.
Indeed I am so in love and so grateful always with and to My Jesus. My prayer is, as it has always been to pursue Him the way He has pursued me. Isaiah 43:18-19 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 “Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. |
Tuesday, October 09, 2018
He is Faithful... when we are not.
Sunday, February 11, 2018
DREAMERS
**Warning** Personal Rant. If you don’t agree, that’s totally allowed. But please do NOT engage in debates and/or personal attacks on this thread. I will unfriend you. I rarely post political opinions or comment publicly about controversial topics. But this has been stirring in my heart for months... and If my perspective can help even one person, then it’s worth sharing.
As a first generation immigrant, I was brought to this country with NO VOICE & NO CHOICE I was 3 years old. I did not speak the language. I did not look like the people around me. I remember clinging to my father, and being afraid of sights and sounds. It was so different than the jungle we came from. I remember being told over & over “God must have big plans for you! He SAVED you from the hardships of poverty/disease, ______ (fill in the blank with any “third-world” problem) you are SO LUCKY, to come to the United States!”
But here’s a few questions... WHO decided that 3rd world countries are “less than” and the United States is “greater” than. Why was my immigration here not frowned upon by society? Why am I so lucky to have been given the opportunities I have had, and yet leave behind a community of children who were just like me. Why was I “the chosen one”. I have lived my life successfully. Well educated, Followed *most* laws, (I speed sometimes...) and raised amazing kids who in turn are successful, well educated adults.
All of these accomplishments were the result of an original incident in which I had NO VOICE and NO CHOICE! Could it be that because my parents were affluent white Americans with the means and support to hire good lawyers and file proper paperwork... I was able to take advantage of these opportunities without fear of deportation?!
I remember when I was 4+ years old and went before the Judge in chambers, with my pink pettifore and my American flag pin & had to recite the pledge of allegiance... it was an honor for sure! And I DID feel lucky. But again, I HAD NO VOICE & NO CHOICE.
Many of you who were privileged enough to have been BORN here, forget that you also had NO VOICE and NO CHOICE. In that sense you are no different than I am.
Let that sink in a minute.
Why didn’t any of YOU have to take a test, and apply, to recite a pledge and get a lawyer and have tons of documentation and home-studies done to be a citizen?? That would be ridiculous right??? You didn’t ask to be born here, you just were! No voice. No choice.
Likewise my friends, I did not ask to come here as a preschooler ... I just was. I was brought here. Don’t get me wrong, for that I am incredibly grateful.
I’m so thankful and I do believe that The United States is an amazing place! Full of opportunities for education, employment... advancement, as well as healthcare and basic food & shelter. No WONDER so many parents also bring their children here to be as lucky as we are, to experience what we do. It’s no surprise that parents from all over want to flee their “3rd world” circumstances and come to the Land of Opportunity!
Why are we so privileged?? Not a single one of us “deserves” what we have just because we happened to be born someplace... why oh why are we punishing and rejecting a generation of immigrant children like me??
Brought here with no voice and no choice, just like you.
Do we need to be kept safe? Absolutely. Does immigration law need to be reformed, ubetcha. But the generation of kids-many now adults-who are essentially “American” in every sense of the word culturally, do not need to be made the examples.
#Dreamer. #SupportDaca #ImmigrationReform #NoVoiceNoChoice
As a first generation immigrant, I was brought to this country with NO VOICE & NO CHOICE I was 3 years old. I did not speak the language. I did not look like the people around me. I remember clinging to my father, and being afraid of sights and sounds. It was so different than the jungle we came from. I remember being told over & over “God must have big plans for you! He SAVED you from the hardships of poverty/disease, ______ (fill in the blank with any “third-world” problem) you are SO LUCKY, to come to the United States!”
But here’s a few questions... WHO decided that 3rd world countries are “less than” and the United States is “greater” than. Why was my immigration here not frowned upon by society? Why am I so lucky to have been given the opportunities I have had, and yet leave behind a community of children who were just like me. Why was I “the chosen one”. I have lived my life successfully. Well educated, Followed *most* laws, (I speed sometimes...) and raised amazing kids who in turn are successful, well educated adults.
All of these accomplishments were the result of an original incident in which I had NO VOICE and NO CHOICE! Could it be that because my parents were affluent white Americans with the means and support to hire good lawyers and file proper paperwork... I was able to take advantage of these opportunities without fear of deportation?!
I remember when I was 4+ years old and went before the Judge in chambers, with my pink pettifore and my American flag pin & had to recite the pledge of allegiance... it was an honor for sure! And I DID feel lucky. But again, I HAD NO VOICE & NO CHOICE.
Many of you who were privileged enough to have been BORN here, forget that you also had NO VOICE and NO CHOICE. In that sense you are no different than I am.
Let that sink in a minute.
Why didn’t any of YOU have to take a test, and apply, to recite a pledge and get a lawyer and have tons of documentation and home-studies done to be a citizen?? That would be ridiculous right??? You didn’t ask to be born here, you just were! No voice. No choice.
Likewise my friends, I did not ask to come here as a preschooler ... I just was. I was brought here. Don’t get me wrong, for that I am incredibly grateful.
I’m so thankful and I do believe that The United States is an amazing place! Full of opportunities for education, employment... advancement, as well as healthcare and basic food & shelter. No WONDER so many parents also bring their children here to be as lucky as we are, to experience what we do. It’s no surprise that parents from all over want to flee their “3rd world” circumstances and come to the Land of Opportunity!
Why are we so privileged?? Not a single one of us “deserves” what we have just because we happened to be born someplace... why oh why are we punishing and rejecting a generation of immigrant children like me??
Brought here with no voice and no choice, just like you.
Do we need to be kept safe? Absolutely. Does immigration law need to be reformed, ubetcha. But the generation of kids-many now adults-who are essentially “American” in every sense of the word culturally, do not need to be made the examples.
#Dreamer. #SupportDaca #ImmigrationReform #NoVoiceNoChoice
Monday, January 15, 2018
Humanitarianism
Thinking a lot today about Compassionate Jesus. Had a great conversation with Brian about how Jesus was the first true “Humanitarian”.
I like to say I love Jesus and follow Jesus... if that’s true, how can I in my day-to-day life represent Him well.
There are many of you my friends, who do not even believe that Jesus existed. There are some that think he was a real “nice” man... but certainly not a deity.
I say it doesn’t matter. I love the person of Jesus. His life was remarkable and I want to love people fiercely the way He did.
I will give until it hurts. I will GO where others dare not go, to help even one person and let them know they matter! I will reach out to the unlovely and the poor choice makers and the sick and I will hold their hand and not judge them and I will smile and pray for them and offer them whatever hope I am able.
It feels daunting at times. There are so many millions of hurting people in this world. But whatever you can do, matters to that “starfish”.
As I ponder today on the life of MLK and of Jesus and other Martyrs of Love and equality I will not just keep those thoughts in my head or post it on FB. I will GO and put my thoughts & words into action. Because faith without works is dead...
I like to say I love Jesus and follow Jesus... if that’s true, how can I in my day-to-day life represent Him well.
There are many of you my friends, who do not even believe that Jesus existed. There are some that think he was a real “nice” man... but certainly not a deity.
I say it doesn’t matter. I love the person of Jesus. His life was remarkable and I want to love people fiercely the way He did.
I will give until it hurts. I will GO where others dare not go, to help even one person and let them know they matter! I will reach out to the unlovely and the poor choice makers and the sick and I will hold their hand and not judge them and I will smile and pray for them and offer them whatever hope I am able.
It feels daunting at times. There are so many millions of hurting people in this world. But whatever you can do, matters to that “starfish”.
As I ponder today on the life of MLK and of Jesus and other Martyrs of Love and equality I will not just keep those thoughts in my head or post it on FB. I will GO and put my thoughts & words into action. Because faith without works is dead...
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